English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Welcome back Cubbies - first day of school smiles!

Upcoming Dates

September 2: PTA Meeting 7:00pm; Library and Virtual

September 4 & 7: No School - Labor Day 

September 17: Back to School Night

September 20: Asha-Jyothi 5K & Fun Run (see below for details)

September 21: No School - Yom Kippur

October 2: Westfield High School Homecoming Parade

View the 2026-27 school year calendar for additional important dates

Cubbie News

Dear Cub Run Families and Friends, 

What an incredible first week of school! Our Cubbies brought so much joy into our building, making it a fantastic start to our 40th year. This year we are focused on: Learning, Growing, and Celebrating 40 years; it’s a reflection of our collective commitment to our students, to each other, and to our shared mission.

Here is how we are bringing it to life together:

• Learning: We are prioritizing high-quality, impactful instruction across all content areas while empowering students to take ownership of their progress. By grounding our lessons in clear learning targets, we elevate student voice and ensure every Cubbie understands and drives their own learning journey. 
• Growing: Through our continued work with C.A.R.E.S. and our positive behavior approach, we remain focused on building a strong sense of belonging. Every child who walks through our doors deserves to feel safe, valued, and connected. Together, we will foster an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, voices are heard, and every student knows they belong.
• Celebrating: We have 40 years of amazing accomplishments to honor and so much more to look forward to! The success of our students is a testament to the collective efforts of this incredible community, and we can’t wait to celebrate those wins together.

Our Cubbies are doing an awesome job this week focusing on our C.A.R.E.S. expectations and earning their C.A.R.E.S. tickets. We are well on our way towards our first school-wide goal of 1,000 tickets. When we achieve our goal, we will be celebrating with popsicles in our new dens for the year! Thank you for your partnership in making week one such a success!

Warm regards,

Melissa Miller, Principal

Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal

Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal

Calendar Reminder

Friday, September 4, and Monday, September 7, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends.

See the complete school year calendar. 

Bus Safety Reminder

If your student uses a bus stop on a busy street or intersection, please remind them to wait until the bus arrives before crossing. The bus stop sign helps ensure traffic is stopped while students cross safely. Thank you for talking with our students.

Last Call: Band, Strings, & Chorus Registration

Students in grades 4-6 are eligible for band/strings or chorus! If you are interested in signing up, please complete this google form link.

Registration ends, Friday, September 4th. If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out to a member of our music team: 

• Strings Mrs. O’Connell, RCOConnell@fcps.edu
• Band Mr. Lovecchio, SMLovecchio@fcps.edu
• Chorus Ms. Shultz, KJShultz@fcps.edu Ms. Thatcher, LLThatcher@fcps.edu

Student ID Cards for Cub Run Bus Riders

We are distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services this week. Our students will come home with the ID card attached to a lanyard. If your child is a bus rider and has not received a card, please contact our main office. We did not receive bus IDs for students that were registered after July 2, so we will issue IDs to students as soon as we get them. 

Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.

We ask for your patience! Bus drivers will begin checking in students next week and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.

Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.

Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights

FCPS wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.

On the Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms webpage, explanations are provided of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. 

View the 2026-27 Opt-Out Booklet.

Help Your Child Navigate the Lunch Line

Check out some tips to help your child get through the lunch line quickly and have more time to eat:

• Teach your child their student ID number to receive meals at school.
• Sign up for and add money to MySchoolBucks to purchase meals at school.
• Apply for free and reduced-price meals. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should submit a new application as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

If your child has any food allergies, learn how to submit accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergens. 

Access menus for breakfast, lunch, and other school meals, as well as allergen and nutrition information.

Early Release Wednesdays for the 2026-27 School Year

FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four. 

Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students. 

Please view the dates for Cub Run's early release Wednesdays below:

• October 21
• December 2
• February 10
• May 5

Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.

Back to School Night - September 17

Please join us for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 17. This evening, our teachers will be presenting sessions, you can meet our specialists, and hear important FCPS information on what to expect this school year. We look forward to seeing you!

6:00-6:40PM - Session 1 & Welcome Videos

6:00-7:15PM - Specialists available in library

6:50-7:30PM - Session 2 & Welcome Videos

Photo Opt-Outs

This is a reminder that opting your child out of photographs and school social media must be done each year in ParentVUE. This opt-out can be submitted at any time during the year by logging into your SIS ParentVUE account, navigating to the Student Info tab, and selecting Edit Information. For questions about photo opt-out options, please see our school website here under the ParentVUE section.

Annual Asha-Jyothi 5K & Fun Run - September 20 

Cub Run is excited to partner with Asha-Jyothi again to support their 18th Annual 5K and Fun Run! The Asha-Jyothi (AJ) 5K Run is a fun-filled family event with foot tapping music, delicious food and a friendly course. It is a volunteer based non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the underprivileged by providing access to education and healthcare. AJ generously donates all the registration money from each school back to the school for its STEM needs.

Sunday, September 20, 2026

One mile Fun Run: 8:00AM

5K Run: 8:30AM 

Where: Fairfax Corner

www.AshaJyothi.org

Coupon: AJ4Schools (Use code for a direct school donation)

Last year we had 48 registrations and raised $1,731 for Cub Run! This is an excellent fundraiser for our school and a great opportunity to practice our running! Register now and join us!

Changes to Student Technology Use Beginning School Year 2026-27

FCPS is updating how students use technology during the 2026-27 school year to continue supporting purposeful, developmentally appropriate, and balanced technology use.

The updates include new expectations for personal devices during the school day, pre-K and kindergarten device use, an elementary device take-home option, and required digital literacy instruction for all students.

What's Changing?

Personal Devices: Students may only use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the school day. Personally owned laptops, tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, and other personal computing and communication devices are not allowed during the instructional day except in approved circumstances, including certain IEP, Section 504, or course-specific needs. Find more information on the Updates to Student Bring Your Own Device webpage.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Students: FCPS-issued laptops and tablets will not be used by pre-k and kindergarten students. Limited exceptions remain for students who require access to and use of such devices for Individualized Education Plans, 504 plans, translation purposes, or multilingual education support. 

Opt-Outs for Taking Elementary Devices Home: Families of students in Grades 1 to 6 may choose not to have their child's FCPS-issued device sent home. Families can make the selection through the Parent Digital Consent Application or contact their child's school. Students who do not take a device home will continue to have access to required technology at school.

Digital Literacy: All students will receive required instruction in digital citizenship, media and information literacy, and AI literacy. Digital literacy lessons do not require students to use technology, including generative AI tools. 

Reminders

Student Online Verification Update

The 2026–27 Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet is now available in ParentVUE. The OVU packet allows parents to electronically update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and upload immunization records for their students via ParentVUE. 

Please take time to update your student's information.  Instructions and detailed information are available here.

The OVU packet includes a section where parents can request childcare for the four elementary Early Release Wednesdays.  

New Cell Phone Policy Started July 1

The Fairfax County School Board approved changes to FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cell phone possession and use, in order to align FCPS’ cell phone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law went into effect on July 1 and states that all schools must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.

This means that across all grade levels at FCPS, cell phones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as airpods, earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day – thus, no cell phones from bell to bell. More details are available on FCPS’ Cell Phone Policy webpage. 

SR&R Updates

Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for FamiliesFamilies are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.

Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.

Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.

Schoology

Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.

A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:

• Your child’s classes.
• Your child’s upcoming assignments.
• School, class, and group announcements.

To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology. 

SEL Screener

The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

FCPS Mobile App

Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or